PHX Reporter

In a notable case involving two prominent Arizona politicians, the divorce proceedings between Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) have recently come to light, revealing details of their split that began nearly eight years ago.

The unsealed case reveals Ruben filed for divorce from his heavily pregnant wife Kate on Dec. 16, 2016. 

Initially, Ruben sought to seal the case, arguing that Kate had not yet been served with the papers and was "likely to give birth any day." 

After a protracted legal battle with the independent news outlet Washington Free Beacon, which the outlet said cost $1 million in legal fees, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled against the Gallegos’ attempts to keep the records confidential.

Ruben, who was represented by attorney Bonnie L. Booden, requested that the court seal the records of the case at the time, citing the high-profile nature of both parties.

The court granted this request, sealing the case just one day prior to the official filing.

In April 2017 the divorce was finalized with both parties affirming there was no domestic violence during their marriage.

The now unsealed filings show Ruben claimed their marriage was "irretrievably broken," a statement Kate disputed. 

After the divorce, Ruben married lobbyist Sydney Barron in December 2019. 

As Ruben Gallego prepares for the Nov. 5 election against Republican candidate Kari Lake, the divorce proceedings have reignited scrutiny of his behavior. 

Following the unsealing, the Gallegos publicly demanded an apology from Lake for mischaracterizing Ruben as a "deadbeat dad."

"It’s bizarre that Ruben Gallego would demand an apology from Kari Lake for his appalling behavior," Caroline Wren, a senior advisor to Kari Lake, said in a statement reported by NPR.

Wren said the timing of the divorce should be a red flag for Arizona women.  

"If Ruben Gallego will turn his back on his pregnant wife days before she gives birth, he will turn his back on the women of Arizona,” she said. 

In 2023, the Washington Free Beacon sought to unseal the records of the divorce proceedings, arguing a “First Amendment Right of Access to Court Records.” 

Ruben and Kate Gallego filed a joint response opposing a motion to unseal court records related to their divorce.

However, the Washington Free Beacon said the sealed Divorce case was “nearly unprecedented.” 

“What the Gallegos are clearly trying to conceal from public view is evidence of, arguments regarding, and the Court's determination of the fitness of these public officials to care for a child,” the Washington Free Beacon’s attorney wrote in response. 

“The principal cited example of information that should categorically be kept from public view is how their child should (or, more importantly, should not be) disciplined,” the petition from the Washington Free Beacon reads.

“That is not about the yet unborn or infant child's actual behavior, it is about their parents' anticipated behavior, likely based on historical conduct. And that type of information is directly relevant to Mayor Gallego or Congressman Gallego's fitness to care for this State's largest city or our Nation."

Filings accompanying the documents release show Ruben Gallego received travel compensation from The Aspen Institute, which notably hosted a tabletop exercise to pre-bunk and later censor the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020. 

The filings also revealed several fiduciary positions held by Kate Gallego, including for the Geneva, Switzerland based 50L Home. 

50L Home’s website notes the group works with various stakeholders—including companies, governments, and civil society—to implement “green” initiatives, including reducing, recycling, and reusing water, along with efforts to “inspire daily behavioral lifestyle changes.” 

The filings also show that Kate Gallego belongs to a number of Democrat led non-profit and political organizations including Accelerator for America, League of Arizona Cities and Towns, C40, Climate Mayors, Democratic Mayors Association, Democratic National Committee and others.